Tavarish's Timing Belt Replacement Article has me Wondering

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 10/09/2014 at 13:44 • Filed to: None

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What do the SBC-based 4.3 and LS 5.3 in my Safari and my dad's Silverado have to set their timing?

I know the Vue has a chain. I only know this because my mom's Vue closed in on 70k and I started getting concerned about a timing belt snapping and destroying the engine.

But, I've never head of having to change anything on a SBC or LS motor.

OHV motors for the win, I guess. Since they seem to be the most maintenance free.

ly2v8-Brian > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:46

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Chain

mcseanerson > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:47

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We all need V8s.

Frosted > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:47

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I'm gonna take a wild guess and say also a chain. Seems like most pickups have chains.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mcseanerson 10/09/2014 at 13:48

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Or V8 based V6s.

ly2v8-Brian > mcseanerson 10/09/2014 at 13:49

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I have one and can vouch for that.

quarterlifecrisis > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:50

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Chain.

Sweet Trav > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:50

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There's a timing set that runs between the crank and the cam. its a chain.

mcseanerson > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:51

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I have a theory that on the last days of planet earth before it is destroyed by a comet someone will be driving around in something with a 3800.

RallyWrench > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:51

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Chain. Sweet, short chain. My old autoshop instructor had a C/10 he bought new with a small block in it, with close to 300k miles. He used it as a demonstration of chain stretch & its effects on timing.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mcseanerson 10/09/2014 at 13:52

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The GM 3800, 4300, and 5700 will all be around... forever .

Mattbob > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:52

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That chain right there.

DoYouEvenShift > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 13:55

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Failures on SBC and LS engines are pretty rare. Not unheard of but rare. At high mileage, you throw on a new timing set and keep going. The chain stretches a bit and the timing will be off slightly. Less than $100 for parts and gaskets and a couple hours in the driveway. Throw a new water pump in there while your at it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > DoYouEvenShift 10/09/2014 at 13:59

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Funny, my dad's Silverado needs a new water pump.

efish44 > DoYouEvenShift 10/09/2014 at 14:00

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The Vue can either have a chain or a belt. Some years/models of the Vue used the Honda 3.5 engine—it has a belt.

T5Killer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 14:07

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Ford Modular/coyote V8s both SOHC and DOHC are chain driven as well.

camaroboy68ss > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 14:18

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other than the slight stretching a SBC timing chain will go forever unless you get either cam walk or a crank that walks. In the 70s though chevy used timing fears that had nylon teeth. Those go out quickly.

On LS engines ive seen that when you do like a can swap ppl recommend a new gear and chain set.

DoYouEvenShift > efish44 10/09/2014 at 14:21

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I not too familiar with the Honda engines. I always thought it was weird that Saturn did that. Fine motors though. The Ecotec is damn near bullet proof. Ive seen millions of those engines come through my shop. Only failures Ive seen was from people drivng 15k miles without changing the oil and running the pan dry. Or someone installing the oil filter canister incorrectly and spilling all the oil. Other than that they seem to outlast whatever car theyre in.

crowmolly > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 14:23

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Well, sort of. Some of the 60's stuff and most of the high performance stuff is fine for a while. Usually you'll replace it when you do a cam swap anyway.

But remember, THIS was a thing:

Big block boat motor but shows the timing gear set perfectly. GM made the cam gear with nylon teeth for a while (70's-80s?) in an effort to make the engines more quiet. Which they did, but stuff like this happened:

Jedidiah > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 14:50

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That chain right dere.

The chains will stretch over time, but they never really go bad.

The teeth on the gears were nylon in the 60s/70s and would break off. They'd clog the oil pan screen. I think it was purposely engineered to go bad right about the time the factory warranty would have expired back in the day.

Just unclog the screen and put a new metal tooth gears on it.

Sounds simple, but isn't easy. It is right behind the timing cover which is behind the water pump.

That means you have to take off the water pump, loosen the motor mounts, unbolt the oil pan, take off the timing cover and then finally do the timing job.

briannutter1 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/09/2014 at 15:22

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mxiture and timing done by your local chassis dyno tuner via HP Tuners or EFI live.